Town Board — Minutes

Town of Rutland Board Meeting Minutes September 2, 2026– 6:30 pm. 785 Center Road, Stoughton WI This board meeting was held via Zoom and in person. 1. Call to Order and roll call. Town Chair Kent Knutson called the meeƟng to order at 6:30 pm. Pre- sent in addiƟon to the Chair were Supervisors Sue Williams, Mark Porter, Jim Dorn and Michelle Perz. Also present in addiƟon to the Board were Clerk Dawn George, Deputy Clerk Amanda Bart- leƩ, Treasurer Kim Sime, Rutland IT Technician Derek Nedveck and Patrolman Chester Ace. The aƩendance list of others present is on file. 2. CerƟficaƟon and compliance with open meeƟngs law. The Deputy Clerk verified that all noƟces were posted and we are in compliance with open meeƟng law. 3. Madison InternaƟonal Speedway report. None. 4. Patrolman Ace’s report. Patrolman Ace discussed the status of the roadwork on Hill Road, he is geƫng the 2006 GMC ready for sale, and tree cleanup around the Town. He would like to trim trees on North Union, Union Dane, Old Stone, Rome Corners and Rutland Dunn. He would like to hire a tree service to help take down a dead oak on Flint Road. MoƟon and second by Wil- liams and Dorn to approve the detailed tree trimming Patrolman Ace described; moƟon passed 5-0. 5. IT Director Nedveck Report – Update of Google Drive account. IT Director Nedveck gave an up- date on the last 6 months of research on cloud storage and analyzing the Dropbox files. In the next 3-6 months he will upgrade Google Workspace with Town Web, begin having everyone use Google Drive on their laptops and make sure files are backed up. 6. Deputy Clerk- Capital Budget. Deputy Clerk BartleƩ presented the updated Capital Budget spreadsheet with future planning for roadwork and equipment needs. 7. Public Comment for items on or off the agenda. Gail Simpson, 673 Center Road, spoke in favor on the proposal IndustrializaƟon of Agricultural Land from Dane County Towns AssociaƟon. 8. Chairs report. Chair Knutson thanked Nancy Nedveck for her work she did with the weeding and water of the retenƟon ponds and trees at the Town Hall. Chair Knutson had a discussion with Chair Steve Greb, Town of Dunn, regarding the dump trucks on Sunrise Road and Rutland Dunn Town Line Road and the traffic paƩern. 9. Planning Commission Report. 1. Public hearing on CUP-02720 for Three Gaits for large animal boarding and community non- profit use, located at 3741 State Hwy 138, Stoughton, WI 53589. a: Call the Public Hearing to order – Roll call; Chair Knutson called meeƟng to order at 6:02. Josh Cooper, Derek Nedveck, Michelle Perz, Sue Williams, Mark Porter, Bill Boerigter, Kent Knutson, Jim Dorn were present. Kim Sime was also present. Others in aƩendance are on file. The Three Gaits team introduced themselves and spoke on their plans for CUP . Storm water management is in place with Dane County. Manure management has been completed with Dane County but the new plan has not been given to Rutland at this Ɵme. Dept of TransportaƟon has not responded to Three Gaits with the update on the driveway. At this Ɵme, they have 13 horses and plan on increasing to 25 or so. They have a waiƟng list of those looking to use the services they offer. With new facility, Three Gaits feels they can beƩer serve their current and future clients. b: TesƟmony of those in favor. 4 Residents spoke in support of the CUP . With 4 others were in support but did not speak. c: TesƟmony of those opposed. There was no opposiƟon of the CUP d: Close the hearing. Chair Knutson closed the PH at 6:35 2. Discussion and possibly acƟon on CUP-02720 for Three Gaits for large animal boarding and community non-profit use, located at 3741 State Hwy 138, Stoughton, WI 53589 Chair Knutson read each of the 8 Standards with a roll call vote aŌer each. Standard 1 The proposed land use will not be detrimental to or endanger the neighborhood health, safety, comfort, or general welfare. Passed 5-0 Standard 2 The uses, values and enjoyment of other properƟes in the neighborhood already permiƩed shall be in no foreseeable manner be substanƟally impaired or diminished by es- tablishment, maintenance or operaƟon of the proposed condiƟonal use. Passed 5-0 Standard 3 The establishment of the condiƟonal use will not impede the normal and or- derly development and improvement of the surrounding property for uses permiƩed in the district. Passed 5-0 Standard 4 There are adequate uƟliƟes, access roads, drainage, and other necessary im- provements to allow the land use, or improvements are planned to provide adequate measures. Passed 5-0 Standard 5 Adequate measures have been or will be taken to provide adequate in- gress/egress to public streets and the proposed condiƟonal use will not present traffic con- flicts. Passed 5-0 Standard 6 The condiƟonal use shall conform to all applicable regulaƟons of the district in which it is located. Provide informaƟon on any necessary licensing, or regulaƟons associated with the proposed land use. Passed 5-0 Standard 7 The condiƟonal use is consistent with the adopted Town and County Comprehen- sive Plans. Passed 5-0 Standard 8 If the condiƟonal use is to be located in a Farmland PreservaƟon District, the condiƟonal use must meet the findings as listed below: If the property is located in the FP- 35, FP-1, or FP-B Zoning District, addiƟonal informaƟon is needed. Non applicable Perz moƟoned to recommend the Town Board to approve CUP-02720 for Three Gaits. Sec- ond by Cooper with amendment of not to exceed 40 horses. Perz was ok with amendment. Perz made the moƟon to add the amendment to her moƟon. Second by Nedveck. MoƟon passed 5-0 Original moƟon passed 5-0. Board AcƟon: Nedveck read Standards 1 through 8. Roll call vote on all 8 standards 5- 0. Perz moved to accept the planning commission’s recommendaƟon to approve CUP-02720 for Three Gaits for large animal boarding and community non-profit use, not to exceed 40 horses, located at 3741 State Hwy 138, Stoughton, WI 53589, sec- ond by Williams; moƟon passed 5-0. Dane County recommend to approve. 3. PeƟƟon 12337 by Alex Weber, agent for Marthinsen Trust to rezone 2.81 acres from FP-35 to RR-2 and 29.49 acres from FP-35 to FP-1 to separate exisƟng residence from farmland, creat- ing one agricultural lot. The property is located at 3310 Old Stone Road. Dane Co Zoning recommended going with RR-2 vs RR-4, due to the amount of property that is in the water. Weber will check with Stoughton on the extra territorial boundaries to the City. Knutson moƟoned to recommend the Town Board approve PeƟƟon 12337. Second by Perz. MoƟon passed 5-0 Board AcƟon: MoƟon and second by Perz and Williams to approve PeƟƟon 12337 to rezone Marthinsen Trust 2.81 acres from FP-35 to RR-2 and 29.49 acres from FP-35 to FP-1 to sepa- rate exisƟng residence from farmland, creaƟng one agricultural lot at 3310 Old Stone Road; moƟon passed 5-0. Boerigter moƟoned to recommend the Town Board approve the final CSM for PeƟƟon 12337 conƟngent upon no addiƟonal changes from Dane Co Zoning. Second by Nedveck. MoƟon passed 5-0 Board AcƟon: MoƟon and second by Williams and Perz to approve final CSM for PeƟƟon 12337 conƟngent upon no addiƟonal changes from Dane Co. Zoning; moƟon passed 5-0. 4. Correspondence and Public Comment Several residents expressed their appreciaƟon to the PC members and the Town Board for their hard work and all they do for Rutland. Also in support of the Zoning IndustrializaƟon to be consistent with Rutland’s Comprehension Plan. a. Zoning IndustrializaƟon Discussion only. No acƟon taken. No Board acƟon. 5. Planning Commission Training Discussion only. No acƟon taken. No Board acƟon. Board: Pete, representaƟon from 3 Gaits thanked the Board for their Ɵme and effort with helping 3 Gaits’s CUP . 10. Discussion and possible acƟon regarding the installaƟon of a flagpole or display of the flag at the Town Hall. Dorn discussed possible companies to purchase a flagpole from and the costs associated with it. He suggested going to Footville and viewing their new flagpole. He believes the Town should budget about $5,000. Discussion will be conƟnued during the budget process. 11. Discussion and possible acƟon regarding updaƟng the Speed Limit ordinance for Hill Road. Mo- Ɵon and second by Williams and Perz to update the Speed Limit ordinance to correct Hill Road to 35 mph; moƟon passed 5-0. 12. Discussion and possible acƟon regarding combining Clerk and Treasurer posiƟons. Discussion by the Board regarding combining the Clerk and Treasurer posiƟons. Keeping the posiƟons sepa- rate will ensure checks and balances. Board will review the posiƟons in the future if needed. MoƟon and second by Williams and Dorn to keep the two posiƟons separate; moƟon passed 5- 0. 13. MeeƟngs aƩended. The Board reported on meeƟngs aƩended. 14. Consent Agenda. a. Approval of August Minutes. b. Approval of Checks and Vouchers – Discussion/Board acƟon. c. Approval of Treasurer’s Report – Discussion/Board acƟon. d. Budget Summary MoƟon and second by Williams and Perz to approve consent agenda as presented; mo- Ɵon passed 5-0. 15. Correspondence. a. 2027 Special Events Data Call. Discussion on procedures for emergency situaƟons. 16. New Business. Williams talked about the Brooklyn Fire Department joint meeƟng. 17. Upcoming meeƟng dates October 7, 2026 October 19, 2026, 10:00 am, Budget October 26, 2026, 10:00 am, Budget November 4, 2026 (possibly move to November 11) *new date November 5 December 9, 2026 (possibly move to December 2) *new date December 2 18. MoƟon by Chair Knutson to move to closed session pursuant to Sec. 19.86(1)(c) to consider compensaƟon; roll call vote 5-0. 19. MoƟon by Chair Knutson to reconvene into open session pursuant to 19.85(2) to finish any unfinished business that may come before the board, second by Williams; moƟon passed 5-0. MoƟon and second by Porter and Williams to increase IT Director posiƟon compensaƟon to $45.00/hour effecƟve September 1, 2026; moƟon passed 5-0. 20. Adjournment. MoƟon and second by Perz and Williams; moƟon passed 5-0. Respectfully submitted by Amanda Bartlett – Deputy Clerk